By Alan Irving

Last updated 16:06, Wednesday, 27 August 2008

A WEST Cumbrian woman has been hired to run the troubled Copeland Council financial department at a salary of up to £58,030.

Julie Crellin, aged 36 and currently employed at the county council, has been appointed head of finance and management systems.

Described as a highly experienced public sector chartered accountant, Maryport-born Mrs Crellin takes on the permanent post from interim head of finance Georgina Ayling. She earned £93,875 for 10 months work and has recently returned to her native Portsmouth.

The council’s finance department has been troubled for some time through a combination of factors which have prevented it from meeting Audit Commission deadlines for closure of annual accounts.

The Whitehaven News also learned yesterday that international accountants Deloitte has been kept on with a mandate to sort things out.

At first the firm with offices in Newcastle and Manchester were hired to tell the council exactly what had gone wrong and what needed to be done to put matters right. The fee: £10,000 up front.

Deloitte has now been awarded a further contract to do whatever work is necessary over a seven-week period. Up to five accountants are involved.

The council has declined to say how much the deal is worth but the going rate for Ms Ayling was up to £1,500 a day.

Meanwhile, new permanent finance chief Mrs Crellin is said to be “keen on developing new solutions, systems and shared working to effect improvements”.

A statement said: “Julie is looking forward to sharing her skills and expertise and supporting the performance improvement agenda in Copeland.

“She has been actively involved in the implementation of Cumbria County Council’s new accounting and financial management package.”

Mrs Crellin takes over at Copeland in mid October. At the county council she is finance manager for the economy, culture and environment directorate.